In a world where doctors save the lives of thousands of children and adults, lawyers protect and bring justice to the innocent, firefighters put their lives at risk to rescue others, and teachers spend years preparing children for the real world — people who dedicate their lives to fashion can sometimes be overlooked. While the fashion industry is one of the most influential and relatable in the world, it is often thought to be nothing more than a superficial cluster of irrelevant businesses who want nothing more than to overcharge for shallow, cosmetic purposes and take money from the public. But if there are so many other career options that are "better" than being a designer, a buyer, a fashion journalist, a visual merchandiser, an event planner, etc., then why do thousands upon thousands of young adults choose to pay expensive tuition fees in order to attend fashion schools? Why would anyone want to become part of an industry that is nothing more than clothes and bags and shoes?
What fashion students understand is that this industry impacts every individual on the planet in a way that no other industry can. It is the source of each and every fabric you touch, all the beautiful photography that graces every billboard in Time Square and every page of the magazines some claim not to care about, every shirt you choose to throw on your back in the morning. It is every tired retail employee in your local mall, every piece of jewelry your ex-boyfriend gave you, every drape and every stitch of any dress you've ever worn. Surprisingly, there are people who care to learn more about what goes into these little details that are easily ignored. I'm one of those people.
My school rules out the misconception that every fashion student wants to be a designer. While designers are extremely talented, hardworking people, this assumption couldn't be further from the truth. My classes consist of fashion writing, buying and merchandising math (one of many math classes,) public relations, retailing & marketing, textiles, management and so many more. I've been part of volunteer opportunities like NYFW, had the opportunity to meet and speak with some of my favorite designers personally, observed guest speakers who told stories of becoming the founder or CEO of their company, and found a job that is furthering my experience in the industry (and that I adore.) By the end of my Sophomore year, I will have completed two different internships and networked with dozens of people who could potentially help me make moves in my career, all while working, going to school full time and earning a BBA in Fashion Merchandising and Publishing. At times I may feel stressed, tired, and definitely over scheduled, but there's nothing more rewarding than knowing i did it all by myself, for myself.
Being a fashion student is so much more than admiring designer clothes and expanding your heel collection. It's doing as much homework as possible on your break so that once your ten hour shift is over, you can rush home and study for a test the next day. It's attending classes 11 a.m to 5 p.m., only to run to an interview and still try to make it home in time to finish your discussion boards, endless online math assignments, and three essays due that week. It's saying no to dinner with friends because you'd rather stay home and work on your designs, or your articles, or whatever it is that you want to make a career out of. It's trying your best to attend every fashion event that could bring you networking opportunities, and simply gaining experience in every aspect of the word.
I guess that in the end, all we want for people to understand is that we truly work our asses off in hopes that our efforts will pay off in the future — just like law students, or nursing students, or psychology students do. We are the epitome of self-expression, uniqueness and a strong work ethic rolled into one. We serve a purpose in our industry, we play a role that cannot be easily duplicated. We are working towards our futures every second of these four years...and most importantly, we stay well-dressed through it all.
